2012 Mustang Cobra Jet: World’s Quickest Production Car?

What ‘s the quicket car in the world? Such an important question comes with many caveats. Top Fuel dragsters are almost certainly the quickest wheeled vehicles in the world, but they are purpose-built speed machines. Among production cars, the 1,180 horsepower Bugatti Veyron is King, with a top speed of over 260 mph and a 0-60 mph time of a blistering 2.57 seconds. But that kind of speed and quickness comes with a staggering price tag; over $2.4 million.

But Left Lane News reports that the Bugatti has been usurped by a much-cheaper factory-built car, the 2012 Mustang Cobra Jet. At a recent ADRL event, Bo Butner’s Cobra Jet recorded a 0-60 mph time of 1.5 seconds, and a 0-100 mph time of 3.26 seconds.

We’re not ready to crown the Cobra Jet king just yet (though that would be sweet). Just 50 2013 Cobra Jets have been built, and not one of them is street-legal. The Cobra Jet, which lists for around $100,000 (depending on what options you opt for), falls somewhere between purpose-built speed machine and factory automobile.

Of course, the Mustang is only able to make that kind of power because it does away with all sorts of performance-restricting emissions equipment. The Bugatti has to meet air quality standards…though we’d rather be in the Cobra Jet if it came to a high-speed crash. We guess it depends on who you ask whether or not the Cobra Jet is the world’s quickest production car. If you ask us, it’s got to be the Cobra Jet, no if, ands, or Bugattis about it.